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Pythiosis of the skin in dogs is rare, and appears as ulcerated lumps. Primary infection can also occur in the bones and lungs. Dogs with the gastrointestinal form of pythiosis have severe thickening of one or more portions of the gastrointestinal tract that may include the stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, or in rare cases, even the esophagus. The resulting pathology results in anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), and abdominal straining. Extensive weight loss may be evident.
In horses, subcutaneous pythiosis is the most common form and infection occurs through a wound while standing in water containing the pathogen. The disease is also known as leeches, swamp cancer, and bursatti. Lesions are most commonly found on the lower limbs, abdomen, chest, and genitals. They are granulomatous and itchy, and may be ulcerated or fistulated. The lesions often contain yellow, firm masses of dead tissue known as 'kunkers'. It is possible with chronic infection for the disease to spread to underlying bone.
Entomophthoramycosis (or Entomophthoromycosis) is a mycosis caused by Entomophthorales.
Examples include basidiobolomycosis and conidiobolomycosis.
Zygomycosis is the broadest term to refer to infections caused by "bread mold fungi" of the zygomycota phylum. However, because zygomycota has been identified as polyphyletic, and is not included in modern fungal classification systems, the diseases that zygomycosis can refer to are better called by their specific names: mucormycosis (after Mucorales), phycomycosis (after Phycomycetes) and basidiobolomycosis (after Basidiobolus). These rare yet serious and potentially life-threatening fungal infections usually affect the face or oropharyngeal (nose and mouth) cavity. Zygomycosis type infections are most often caused by common fungi found in soil and decaying vegetation. While most individuals are exposed to the fungi on a regular basis, those with immune disorders (immunocompromised) are more prone to fungal infection. These types of infections are also common after natural disasters, such as tornadoes or earthquakes, where people have open wounds that have become filled with soil or vegetative matter.
The condition may affect the gastrointestinal tract or the skin. In non-trauma cases, it usually begins in the nose and paranasal sinuses and is one of the most rapidly spreading fungal infections in humans. Common symptoms include thrombosis and tissue necrosis. Treatment consists of prompt and intensive antifungal drug therapy and surgery to remove the infected tissue. The prognosis varies vastly depending upon an individual patient's circumstances.
Pathogenic zygomycosis is caused by species in two orders: Mucorales or Entomophthorales, with the former causing far more disease than the latter. These diseases are known as "mucormycosis" and "entomophthoramycosis", respectively.
- Order Mucorales (mucormycosis)
- Family Mucoraceae
- "Absidia" ("Absidia corymbifera")
- "Apophysomyces" ("Apophysomyces elegans" and "Apophysomyces trapeziformis")
- "Mucor" ("Mucor indicus")
- "Rhizomucor" ("Rhizomucor pusillus")
- "Rhizopus" ("Rhizopus oryzae")
- Family Cunninghamellaceae
- "Cunninghamella" ("Cunninghamella bertholletiae")
- Family Thamnidiaceae
- "Cokeromyces" ("Cokeromyces recurvatus")
- Family Saksenaeaceae
- "Saksenaea" ("Saksenaea vasiformis")
- Family Syncephalastraceae
- "Syncephalastrum" ("Syncephalastrum racemosum")
- Order Entomophthorales (entomophthoramycosis)
- Family Basidiobolaceae
- "Basidiobolus" ("Basidiobolus ranarum")
- Family Ancylistaceae
- "Conidiobolus" ("Conidiobolus coronatus/Conidiobolus incongruus")
Treatment for phycomycosis is very difficult and includes surgery when possible. Postoperative recurrence is common. Antifungal drugs show only limited effect on the disease, but itraconazole and terbinafine hydrochloride are often used for two to three months following surgery. Humans with "Basidiobolus" infections have been treated with amphotericin B and potassium iodide. For pythiosis and lagenidiosis, a new drug targeting water moulds called caspofungin is available, but it is very expensive. Immunotherapy has been used successfully in humans and horses with pythiosis. Treatment for skin lesions is traditionally with potassium iodide, but itraconazole has also been used successfully.